The cost of renting a property these days is beyond a joke. But so many of us are stuck in this rut as there's no other option.
Jamie Waddington, 25, has come up with the ideal solution - just live in a van. Fuck it, why not.
He credits his decision down to an 'early mid-life crisis' where he was sick of 'wasting up to £800 a month on rent'. Which is fair enough to be honest. So now he's saving around £8k a year by living in the back of a rusty old van (complete with skylight, he's not a complete animal). He bought it for £750, and the 16-year-old LDV Convoy white van could probably tell some stories.
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The van features a wooden interior finished with carved handles, skylight and carpet, complete with loads of shelves, cupboards, a hob, fridge, sink, sofa and fold-out bed. It even has a fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detector.
Jamie, who began work on the van in October and has lived in it for almost three months, claims he can survive on under £10 a week on food and spends money on little else other than petrol.
He survives on helping farmers around the country in exchange for food that he then cooks in the van, and has paid work lined up for summer from previous employers in the countryside.
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Jamie said: "Unless I'm moving around in the van I can get by on less than £10 a week. I buy very little, however I eat well. Aside from farmers, you get good food in honesty boxes for very little money, such as wonky veg.
"I could make the van exactly how I wanted it and it is better than a house-share with people I don't get on with know well.
"I've always been an outdoor person but I realised this would give me the freedom what I wanted with my life. I felt I was growing up too quick and didn't want to settle down.
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"I wanted to do something I felt I had control over and my aim was to become self-sufficient. I enjoy budgeting and the challenge of surviving on very little cash."
I know what you're thinking... what about the toilet? And shower?!
He explained: "I mainly cook all of my own food. The only thing I don't have is a toilet, so I rely on public places and the generosity of people letting me into places to use the bathrooms.
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"Sometimes when people see the van they might be a bit wary as they will think I'm just dossing about, but I'm very welcoming of everybody and once they had seen the inside they have seen all the hard work that has gone into it, they love it.
"I've had nothing but positive reactions from everyone I have met."
To convert an old white van, insulate it, panel it with wood and fit it out with all the appliances he would need, he enlisted the help of his dad. So far, the van has travelled around Yorkshire while Jamie visits friends, toured Cumbria and Wales and spent time in Bristol as he stayed with pals.
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However, he doesn't plan to stay in the UK. In fact, Jamie hopes to take the old van on a tour of Europe and even hopes it might stand up to a trip to the Sahara.
He said: "I've had offers from people all over Europe for jobs and places to pitch up so should be easy to make my way about with little expenditure, doing it as long as I want.
Credit: Mercury Press
"I have a little routine when I am travelling on the road from place to place. I wake up and wash in the sink like everyone's grandparents would have done.
"Then I might driver into a village and find a toilet and free wi-fi and then visit a couple of places or natural sights of beauty. After that I spend the time planning a sensible place to sleep, such as quiet car parks.
"My van has everything a regular house would have except smaller - though the living area is probably bigger than student halls and some flat shares I know.
"The inside of most vans are dark and dingy but the natural light from the skylight mean this is very nice to sit in and it's very homely. I just have to sleep with something covering my eyes or I will be woken up very early in the morning.
"I will do it until I run out of money or I get bored, but I spend very little so it is more likely to be the latter that would stop me."
Good for you, mate.
Words by Mel Ramsay
Featured image credit: Mercury Press
Featured Image Credit:Topics: rent